Point Pleasant Beach was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 18, 1886, from portions of Brick Township, subject to the results of a referendum passed the previous day.[22]

The area that includes Point Pleasant Beach was first used by the LenapeNative Americans. On September 2, 1609, Henry Hudson and the crew of his ship, Half Moon, noticed the area on their way north to explore the Hudson River. Crew member Robert Juet noted in his journal, "This is a very good Land to fall with and a pleasant Land to see." The first European settlers were fisherman and farmers who first arrived in the 18th century. Summer tourism began in the early 19th century when Quaker Thomas Cook, Jr. opened his farmhouse on the site of the current Antrim Elementary School to boarders, which began the trend that transformed the area into an oceanfront haven for visitors, a trend further established in the 1870 by Captain John Arnold, who built a roadway to the ocean, now known as Arnold Avenue. In 1875, he built the first bridge over the Manasquan River, linking the town to Brielle. He later convinced the Central Jersey Railroad to extend its service to Point Pleasant Beach, which it did beginning on July 3, 1880.[25]

The Borough of Point Pleasant Beach was established on June 2, 1886.[22][25]

County of Edinburgh stranded on the beach, February 12–14, 1900.

The 1870s was an era of major tourism expansion, driven by developers who subdivided old farms for vacation home lots. Captain Arnold devised Arnold City between Central and what was to become Arnold Avenue. In 1877, the Point Pleasant Land Company bought the old Forman Farm, 250 acres (1.0 km2) on what is now Route 35 South, between Forman and Elizabeth Avenues and began selling lots. In 1878, it built the four-story, 200-guest Resort House, the largest building in town. It also began a horse-drawn trolley service to attract tourists. Other hotels were built before the turn-of-the-20th century, including the largest, the Leighton, as well as the Beacon, and Zimmerman's, though many of these, including the Resort House, burnt down, succumbed to changing tastes, or were dismantled for wood during World War II. Initially, visitors focused their attention on the Manasquan River, cedar groves and farmhouses, but their interest in the ocean led to development on the waterfront, beginning with the first beachfront pavilion on Atlantic Avenue in 1880. Ten years later, the first flimsy, portable boardwalk was built, but it washed away within two years.[25]

The original amusement area was Clark's Landing, which opened on the Manasquan River in 1892. In 1897, the decision for privately owned beaches in Point Pleasant Beach was made when, as noted in the Council minutes of August 16, "Ownership of the Beach turned down by the Council because of the extreme cost to the Borough for maintenance." In 1915, the first permanent boardwalk was built between Philadelphia and Central Avenues, and eventually expanded along the entire length of Point Pleasant Beach, but shortened to its present length by a September 1938 hurricane that destroyed its southern portion. It evolved from a mere promenade for strolling to a more active amusement area, beginning with Charles Jenkinson's construction in the 1920s of Jenkinson’s Pavilion and Swimming Pool. The boardwalk pavilion became the center of nightlife, featuring sophisticated dancing, well-known big bands, and occasional live nationally broadcast radio. Today it features a number of amusement rides, video arcades, and diverse cuisine, ranging from the traditional sausage sandwich to sushi.[25] Point Pleasant Beach hosts an annual Seafood Festival in September.[25]

On February 12, 1900, the steel-hulled, Scottish barque, County of Edinburgh was blown ashore at high tide and became stranded. The event became national news when it was extensively reported in The New York Times, illustrated by a high quality photograph that became the resource for a famous painting by Antonio Jacobsen.[26] The undamaged vessel was successfully re-floated on the spring tide of February 14 and continued on her voyage from Cape Town to New York.

In October 2012, Point Pleasant Beach and numerous other Jersey Shore communities, such as Seaside Heights and Long Beach Island, were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Nearly 2,800 feet (850 m) of the borough's boardwalk was destroyed, with the cost of repairs estimated as up to $2 million.[27]

There were 1,985 households, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.04.[10]

In the borough, 18.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.7 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.[10]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $57,792 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,541) and the median family income was $65,402 (+/- $16,995). Males had a median income of $54,327 (+/- $12,359) versus $39,076 (+/- $6,800) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,250 (+/- $5,121). About 5.8% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.[36]

There were 2,317 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.96.[34][35]

In the borough the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.[34][35]

The median income for a household in the borough was $51,105, and the median income for a family was $61,250. Males had a median income of $40,507 versus $37,500 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,853. About 5.0% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.[34][35]

Point Pleasant Beach is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7] The Borough form of government used by Point Pleasant Beach, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[37][38]

As of 2015[update], the Mayor of Point Pleasant Beach is Vincent Barrella (I, term ends December 31, 2015). Members of the Borough Council (with party affiliation, term-end year and committee chairmanships listed in parentheses) are Council President George "Andy" Cortes (R, 2015; Public Property, Buildings and Grounds), William R. Mayer (R, 2014; Finance, Insurance and Advertising), Andy Migut (R, 2017; Inpsections, Licenses and Building Codes), Stephen Reid (R, 2015; Streets and Water-Sewer Utility), Thomas Toohey (R, 2016; Fire and Street Lighting / Personnel and Human Resources) and Thomas Vogel (R, 2016; Police and Emergency Management).[4][39][40][41][42]

In the November 2011 general election incumbent Vincent Barrella won re-election running as an independent after losing the endorsement of the Point Pleasant Beach Republican Party which went to Stephen Reid, while Republican William R. Mayer and Independent Bret Gordon won three-year terms on the Borough Council.[43] In December 2011, the council selected Stephen Reid to fill the vacant seat of Jeff Dyer who had resigned in November.[44]

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,385 registered voters in Point Pleasant Beach, of which 623 (18.4%) were registered as Democrats, 1,295 (38.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,465 (43.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties.[68] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 72.6% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 89.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).[68][69]

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 60.1% of the vote (1,373 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.0% (891 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (20 votes), among the 2,299 ballots cast by the borough's 3,559 registered voters (15 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.6%.[70][71] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.1% of the vote (1,486 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.1% (1,026 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (34 votes), among the 2,557 ballots cast by the borough's 3,533 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.4%.[72] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 59.2% of the vote (1,561 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 39.2% (1,035 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (32 votes), among the 2,639 ballots cast by the borough's 3,647 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.4.[73]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.5% of the vote (1,332 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.6% (421 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (34 votes), among the 1,843 ballots cast by the borough's 3,502 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.6%.[74][75] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.1% of the vote (1,280 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 27.8% (546 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.3% (105 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (10 votes), among the 1,966 ballots cast by the borough's 3,425 registered voters, yielding a 57.4% turnout.[76]

As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 29.66 miles (47.73 km) of roadways, of which 18.50 miles (29.77 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.86 miles (12.65 km) by Ocean County and 3.30 miles (5.31 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[84]

^"Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk repair could cost $2M.". NJ.com, November 30, 2012. Accessed September 17, 2013. "As borough officials work to restore the area boardwalk in time for summer, they are faced with the daunting price tag of as much as $2 million, APP.com reports. According to the report, roughly half of the boardwalk — about 2,800 feet — was damaged by Hurricane Sandy and borough engineer Raymond Savacool said he will have to examine the entire boardwalk before placing bids for its restoration."

^Ruscitti, Keith; and Oglesby, Amanda. "Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Vincent Barrella wins re-election", Asbury Park Press, November 9, 2011. Accessed December 7, 2011. "In a heated race between three mayoral candidates, incumbent mayor Vincent Barrella defeated Republican challenger Stephen Reid on Tuesday night. Barrella won with 812 votes, while Reid received 776, according to unofficial results from the Ocean County Clerk’s Office.... The election also decided the victors in a seven-way fight for two Borough Council seats. Republican William R. Mayer and independent candidate Bret Gordon each won three-year terms with 767 votes and 686 votes, respectively."

^DiStephan, Denise. Reid Appointed to Point Beach Council; Rizzo was one of three voting for Stephen Reid", PointPleasantPatch, December 7, 2011. Accessed December 7, 2011. "Stephen Reid, who narrowly lost Republican mayoral bids in the last two years, was picked 3 to 2 by Point Beach Borough Council to replace Jeff Dyer at the council meeting at Borough Hall on Tuesday night.Reid will serve the last year of Dyer's three-year term."

^McKeon, Therese. "Flying High", BelowEmpty.com, August 21, 2000. Accessed January 26, 2015. "Robert DeLeo: 98! Actually we were born in Montclair but we grew up down in Point Pleasant Beach – down at the shore (Robert pronounces it 'shaw' in his best New Jersey accent)."

^Assemblyman James W. Holzapfel, New Jersey Senate Republicans. Accessed August 2, 2011. "Assemblyman James W. Holzapfel was born and raised in Point Pleasant Beach, where he graduated from high school in 1962."

^Freeholder James F. Lacey, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 26, 2015. "Freeholder Lacey began his work in public service in the early 1980s as a member of the Point Pleasant Beach Council. He served as council President in 1989 and 1992. "